Category: Politics

Dec 14, 2011 (LBO) – A visiting Australian parliamentary delegation has said Sri Lanka’s reconciliation efforts after the end of its 30-year ethnic war must ensure sustainable peace and progress. Five Australian-members of parliament have gained a “first-hand insight” into Sri Lanka’s current political, economic and social situation during a week-long visit to the country,” […]

Dec 01, 2011 (LBO) – The Japanese government has provided almost 60 million rupees worth of aid for an early childhood care and development project in the eastern Trincomalee district, part of the former war zone. “It is expected that more than 1,000 families and their community members will benefit from the project,” the statement […]

Nov 30, 2011 (LBO) – A Japanese ‘peace envoy’ to Sri Lanka has pressed the island to probe allegations of human rights abuses that led to the loss of duty free market access to Europe. Yasushi Akashi, who served as a special envoy of the Japanese government during the island’s ethnic war, said a national […]

November 18, 2011 (AFP) – A Sri Lankan High Court sentenced former army chief Sarath Fonseka to three years in jail on Friday after finding him guilty of making a false allegation against the president’s brother. Fonseka, who ran against President Mahinda Rajapakse in 2010 elections, is already serving a 30-month prison term after a […]

Nov 08, 2011 (LBO) – The European Union has expressed concern over the blocking of several dissident websites in Sri Lanka, which the island’s information ministry said was damaging image of politicians and senior state officials. “The EU considers that freedom of press forms an integral part of any democratic system,” European Union heads of […]

November 5, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Saturday warned websites to register with the authorities after the United States expressed deep concern over Colombo’s blocking of a popular Internet-based dissident publication. The Ministry of Mass Media and Information said many reports posted on dissident websites amounted to character assassination of President Mahinda Rajapakse, his ministers […]

PERTH, October 30, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Sunday condemned a “preposterous” UN-commissioned report alleging war crimes in his country, revealing he stopped Canada raising it at a Commonwealth meeting. Foreign Minister Gamini Peiris also confirmed Sri Lanka will host the next Commonwealth leaders’ meeting in 2013, saying that none of the 54-nation […]

LONDON, October 30, 2011 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Sri Lanka on Sunday to make progress on human rights before it hosts the next Commonwealth leaders meeting in 2013 to prevent the likelihood of boycotts. Cameron said he pressed President Mahendra Rajapaske during this year’s Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Australia […]

PERTH, October 30, 2011 (AFP) – A Commonwealth summit bringing together world leaders from the 54-nation bloc closed Sunday agreeing on the urgent need to reform the grouping but without consensus on human rights. In a communique, they noted that a report from an “Eminent Persons Group” (EPG) set up at their last meeting to […]

PERTH, October 28, 2011 (AFP) – Queen Elizabeth II opened the 54-nation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Friday where issues from human rights to succession to the British throne are being discussed. Leaders were greeted with a traditional indigenous cleansing ceremony at the Perth Convention Centre by elders from the Noongar Aboriginal tribe before […]

PERTH, October 27, 2011 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government on Thursday sought to dismiss war crimes allegations as propaganda from its defeated rivals, as it came under further pressure ahead of a Commonwealth summit. A spokesman for Sri Lankan President Mahendra Rajapakse described the heavy focus on the issue in the lead-up to Friday’s gathering […]

PERTH, October 26, 2011 (AFP) – Australia Wednesday urged the UN rights watchdog to probe alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, ramping up pressure ahead of a meeting between the two countries’ leaders at Commonwealth talks. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the UN Human Rights Council must address accusations that Sri Lankan troops killed […]